Background for atropine
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atropine

/ˈæ.tɹə.piːn/ /ˈæ.tɹəˌpiːn/

Meanings
noun
An alkaloid extracted from the plant deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) and other sources, such as the seeds of the Thorn-apple. Though overdoses would be fatal it is used as a drug in medicine for its paralytic effects (e.g. in surgery to relax muscles, in dentistry to dry the mouth, in ophthalmology to dilate the pupils).

Examples :

"The doctor used atropine eye drops to dilate the patient's pupils during the eye exam, allowing for a better view of the retina. "
medicine physiology substance biochemistry plant chemistry anatomy

Related Words

Illustration paralytic

paralytic noun

/ˌpæɹəˈlɪtɪk/

Someone suffering from paralysis.

"The accident left him a paralytic, unable to move his legs. "

Illustration overdoses

overdoses noun

/ˌoʊvərˈdoʊsɪz/ /ˌoʊvərˈdoʊsɪz/

An excessive and dangerous dose of a drug.

"die of a heroin overdose."

Illustration nightshade

nightshade noun

/ˈnaɪtʃeɪd/

Any of the poisonous plants belonging to the genus Solanum, especially black nightshade or woody nightshade.

"The farmer warned us to stay away from the edge of the field because it was full of nightshade, a poisonous plant. "

Illustration sources

sources noun

/sɔːsɪz/ /sɔɹsɪz/

The person, place or thing from which something (information, goods, etc.) comes or is acquired.

"The accused refused to reveal the source of the illegal drugs she was selling."

Illustration belladonna

belladonna noun

/ˌbɛləˈdɒnə/ /ˌbɛləˈdɑnə/

A plant, Atropa belladonna, having purple bell-shaped flowers and poisonous black glossy berries.

"The gardener warned us to stay away from the belladonna because its berries are poisonous. "

Illustration dentistry

dentistry noun

/ˈdɛntɪstɹi/

The field of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the teeth and oral cavity.

"My sister decided to study dentistry at university because she wants to help people have healthy teeth. "

Illustration medicine

medicine noun

/ˈmed(ɪ).sn̩/ /ˈmɛ.dɪ.sɪn/

A substance which specifically promotes healing when ingested or consumed in some way.

"The medicine helped my grandmother feel better after she had the flu. "

Illustration alkaloid

alkaloid noun

/ˈæl.kə.lɔɪd/

Any of many organic heterocyclic bases that occur in nature and often have medicinal properties.

"The coffee bean contains caffeine, which is a stimulating alkaloid. "

Illustration extracted

extracted verb

/ɛkˈstɹæktɪd/

To draw out; to pull out; to remove forcibly from a fixed position, as by traction or suction, etc.

"to extract a tooth from its socket, a stump from the earth, or a splinter from the finger"

Illustration effects

effects noun

/ɪˈfɛkts/

The result or outcome of a cause.

"The effect of the hurricane was a devastated landscape."

Illustration ophthalmology

ophthalmology noun

/ˌɒfθælˈmɒlədʒi/

The anatomy, functions, pathology, and treatment of the eye.

"My grandfather, who is experiencing blurry vision, needs to see an ophthalmology specialist. "

Illustration allowing

allowing verb

/əˈlaʊɪŋ/

To grant, give, admit, accord, afford, or yield; to let one have.

"to allow a servant his liberty;  to allow a free passage;  to allow one day for rest"